Seven Card Stud is a popular, well-known form
of poker. It is played with up-to 8 players at the table.
Before the start of the game, internally the Party Poker.com
system generates a fresh deck of cards for the hand. On Party
Poker.com, Party Poker use a single deck of cards to play a hand
of poker, where a deck refers to 52 cards excluding the jokers.
Online poker rooms use what is called the Random Number Generator
(RNG) to shuffle a deck of cards for the hand.
The system generates a random set of numbers, which are used to
place a card of the deck in a particular position. Once the
complete deck is created, the deck is used for that particular
hand only.
Party Poker.com shuffle the deck of cards every time Party Poker
start a hand, and the random numbers previously generated are
discarded and new ones generated before the shuffle.
The First round of Seven Card Stud:
A fresh table starts off with all the players posting the “ante”
(putting a predetermined amount in the pot before the cards are
dealt). This amount is based on the size of the game. While the
ante amount is not based on a set rule, the same is decided upon
by the prevailing game trends. For e.g. the ante amount for a 1/2
table is 25 cents while for a 3/6 table, it is 50 cents. A new
game on an active table starts with all the players at the table
posting antes.
In Seven card stud poker, players receive seven cards, three
"down" cards and four "up" cards.
After the antes have been placed each player is dealt three cards
(two "down" cards and one "up" card). The "up" card is also known
as the "door card" or "Third Street". The lowest "up" card must
initiate the action with a "Bring-In" bet. (If two or more players
have the same lowest card, the person who brings it in is
determined by suit order progressing from clubs, diamonds, hearts,
and spades.)
Each player is allowed one bet and three raises in each betting
round. To continue to play, players must take an action from what
is displayed to them on each "street" or betting round (unless
they are all-in).
The Second Round of Seven Card Stud:
After the first round of betting another card is dealt face-up to
each player that still remains in the pot (those who didn't fold
on "third street"). This is "Fourth Street" (the second round of
betting). From "Fourth Street" on, the highest hand showing begins
the action by checking or betting. If a pair is showing on "Fourth
Street", players have the option to make a single or double bet.
If a player makes a single/double bet, the other players may call,
raise the single bet, raise the double bet or fold. In case of a
double bet, only an equal amount can be raised (to the extent of
the double bet).
The Third Round of Seven Card Stud:
Upon completion of the betting on "fourth street", another card is
dealt face-up to those who remain in the pot. This is called
"Fifth Street" (the third round of betting - which doubles (the
value of each bet is double of what was available in the first two
rounds) - and continues at this amount for the remaining betting
rounds). The highest hand showing again starts the action by
checking or betting.
The Fourth Round of Seven Card Stud:
Upon the completion of betting on "fifth street", another card is
dealt face-up. This is "Sixth Street" (fourth betting round).
Seven Card Stud Poker Game - standard rules
A maximum of four bets, which includes one bet, and three raises
are allowed for each betting round per player. To continue to
play, players must take an action from what is displayed to them
on each "street" or betting round (unless they are all-in). The
term cap is used to describe the final raise in a round since
betting is then capped and no one can make another raise. Once
capped, players will have the option of calling or folding only.
Folding can be done at any stage of the game. The action of
folding basically shows the player cards being moved to the
dealer. The player from then on would not be considered as part of
the game. He/she would not have any rights over any pots created
on the table.
A player who does not have enough chips to call a bet is declared
All-In. The player is eligible for the portion of the pot to the
point of his final wager. All further action involving other
players takes place in a "side pot", which is unavailable to the
player who has already gone All-In. When a player goes All-in, the
pot currently at the center of the table, which has contributions
from him/her as well, is treated as the main pot, over which the
All-in player has rights. After the player goes all-in, all the
new bets are placed in a side pot, over which only the
contributing players have rights.